Children's Home run by Lancashire County Council in Lancashire

Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241782 1 Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Inspected under the social care common inspection framework

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Information about this children’s home

A local authority operates this home. It is registered to provide care for up to six children who may have social and emotional difficulties. There were six children living in the home at the time of the inspection.

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Information about this children’s home

The manager registered with Ofsted in December 2016.

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Inspection date: 11 June 2024

Date of last inspection: 25 October 2023

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Inspection date: 11 June 2024

Enforcement action since last inspection: none

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Information about this inspection

At this inspection, the inspector evaluated:

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Information about this inspection

 the care of children  the safety of children  the effectiveness of leaders and managers. The inspector has looked closely at the experiences and progress of children, using the social care common inspection framework. This assurance inspection was carried out under the Care Standards Act 2000 to assess the effectiveness of the service, how it meets the core functions of the service as set out in legislation, and to consider how well it complies with The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241782 2

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Findings from the inspection

We did not identify any serious or widespread concerns in relation to the care or protection of children at this assurance inspection.

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Findings from the inspection

Ofsted received concerns about a significant increase in children being reported missing from the home. This inspection took place to ensure the safety and well- being of the children. At this assurance inspection, managers demonstrated that these concerns were being taken extremely seriously and in accordance with safeguarding procedures.

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Findings from the inspection

When children go missing, staff respond appropriately by looking for them and reporting them as missing. This is in line with protocols and individual plans. Additionally, staff work with children to identify the reasons for going missing and to explore risks. Extra staffing has been put in place at night to monitor children’s activities. Regular meetings with relevant professionals ensure all measures are taken to safeguard the children.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager and staff know the children well and want the best for them. Children’s relationships with staff are positive. Staff take time to get to know the children and understand their individual risks and vulnerabilities. The effectiveness of this continues to fluctuate, with some children making good progress and others being drawn into risk-taking behaviour.

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Findings from the inspection

The manager ensures that there is frequent communication with professionals and strategy meetings take place regularly. There is good multi-agency working to ensure a coordinated approach which provides reassurance that children’s safety and well-being are prioritised. Professionals report that the manager and staff are doing all they can to help children become safer.

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Findings from the inspection

Staff have completed a wide range of training. Training is specific to children’s needs. This means that the staff team has developed the relevant knowledge and skills to be able to meet children’s needs.

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Findings from the inspection

Leaders and managers are providing supervision within the set timescale. Staff report that they feel supported by the manager, and he takes an interest in their well-being. Children are cared for by a consistent staff team who know them well.

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Findings from the inspection

Internal monitoring is good. The manager has made improvements to the home’s documentation since the last inspection and has plans to develop this further.

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Findings from the inspection

The requirements from the previous inspection have not been reviewed and remain in place, with the original due dates. Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241782 3

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Inspection date Inspection type Inspection judgement

25/10/2023 Full Good 20/09/2022 Full Good 13/04/2021 Full Good 03/09/2019 Full Good Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241782 4

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Statutory requirements

This section sets out the actions that the registered person(s) must take to meet the Care Standards Act 2000, The Children’s Homes (England) Regulations 2015 and the ‘Guide to the Children’s Homes Regulations, including the quality standards’. The registered person(s) must comply within the given timescales.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must notify HMCI and each other relevant person without delay if—

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Requirement Due date

an incident requiring police involvement occurs in relation to a child which the registered person considers to be serious;

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Requirement Due date

there is an allegation of abuse against the home or a person working there;

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Requirement Due date

a child protection enquiry involving a child —

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Requirement Due date

concludes (in which case, the notification must include the outcome of the child protection enquiry); or

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Requirement Due date

there is any other incident relating to a child which the registered person considers to be serious. (Regulation 40 (4)(a)(b)(c)(d)(i)(ii)(e)) 24 December

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Requirement Due date

The education standard is that children make measurable progress towards achieving their educational potential and are helped to do so.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

help a child who is excluded from school, or who is of compulsory school age but not attending school, to access educational and training support throughout the period of exclusion or non-attendance and to return to school as soon as possible. (Regulation 8 (1) (2)(a)(viii)) 24 December

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that— 24 December Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241782 5 children can access all appropriate areas of the children’s home’s premises;

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Requirement Due date

and any limitation placed on a child’s privacy or access to any area of the home’s premises—

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Requirement Due date

is intended to safeguard each child accommodated in the home; is necessary and proportionate;

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Requirement Due date

is kept under review and, if necessary, revised; and allows children as much freedom as is possible when balanced against the need to protect them and keep them safe. (Regulation 21 (b)(c)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the registered provider must remove internal locks on doors to communal areas.

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Requirement Due date

The registered person must ensure that all employees—

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Requirement Due date

receive practice-related supervision by a person with appropriate experience. (Regulation 33 (4)(b))

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Requirement Due date

In particular, leaders and managers must ensure that staff receive regular supervision. 24 December

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Requirement Due date

The positive relationships standard is that children are helped to develop, and to benefit from, relationships based on—

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Requirement Due date

an understanding about acceptable behaviour; and

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Requirement Due date

positive responses to other children and adults.

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Requirement Due date

In particular, the standard in paragraph (1) requires the registered person to ensure—

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Requirement Due date

meet each child’s behavioural and emotional needs, as set out in the child’s relevant plans;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop socially aware behaviour;

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Requirement Due date

encourage each child to take responsibility for the child’s behaviour, in accordance with the child’s age and understanding; 10 January 2024 Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241782 6 help each child to develop and practise skills to resolve conflicts positively and without harm to anyone;

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Requirement Due date

help each child to develop the understanding and skills to recognise or withdraw from a damaging, exploitative or harmful relationship;

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Requirement Due date

strive to gain each child’s respect and trust;

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Requirement Due date

understand how children’s previous experiences and present emotions can be communicated through behaviour and have the competence and skills to interpret these and develop positive relationships with children;

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Requirement Due date

de-escalate confrontations with or between children, or potentially violent behaviour by children;

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Requirement Due date

understand and communicate to children that bullying is unacceptable;

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Requirement Due date

have the skills to recognise incidents or indications of bullying and how to deal with them; and

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Requirement Due date

that each child is encouraged to build and maintain positive relationships with others. (Regulation 11 (1)(a)(b)(c) (2)(a)(i)(ii)(iii)(iv)(vii)(viii)(ix)(xi)(xii)(xiii)(b)) Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241782 7

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Children’s home details

Registered provider: Lancashire County Council

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Children’s home details

Registered provider address: County Hall, Preston PR1 8XJ

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Inspector

Sally Mitchell, Social Care Inspector Assurance inspection report for children’s home: 1241782 8 to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children’s social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, further education and skills, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for children looked after, safeguarding and child protection.

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Inspector

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